Obs. [var. of FIST v.2] intr. To break wind silently.
1594. Nashe, Unfort. Trav., 18. Wiser was our Brother Bankes of these latter daies, who made his iugling horse a Cut, for feare if at anie time hee should foyst, the stinke sticking in his thicke bushie taile might be noysome to his Auditors.
1604. Dekker, Honest Wh., I. ix. Wks. 1873, II. 52. Spurne your hounds when they foiste, you shal not spurne my Puncke, I can tell you my blood is vext.
1694. Urquhart’s Rabelais, II. xv. 102. The false old trot did so fizzel and foist [ed. 1653. has fist], that she stunk like a hundred devils.
Hence Foisting ppl. a., usually in foisting cur, hound, etc.; cf. FISTING ppl. a.; also Foister, one who foists.
c. 1611. Chapman, Iliad, Pref. (1857), 65. Nothing so much weighed as the barkings of puppies, or foisting hounds, too vile to think of our sacred Homer.
1656. Davenant, Siege Rhode, III. Dram. Wks. 1873, IV. 395. Mer. D’ye snarl, ye foisting mongrels?
1674. N. Cox, Gentl. Recreat., I. (1677), 24. As for Shepherds Dogs, foisting Curs, and such whom some fond Ladies make their daily, nay nightly Companions too, I shall pass over, being neither worthy to be inserted into this Subject, nor agreeable thereunto.
1677. Miege, Vesseur, a foister, or a fizzler.
